patten



(N0 Model.)

WITNESSES:

' 2 Sheets-Sheet L J. S. PATTEN.

AXLE BOX LUBRIGATOR.

Patented Feb. 6, 1894'.

A TTORNE Y8.

mo Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J. S. PATTEN. AXLE BOX LUBRIGATOR. No. 514,379. Patented Feb. 6, 1894.

v INVENTOR 0522768 8.2621261;

I BY

ATTORNEYS.

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S. m, E w W UNITED STATES PATENT Fries.

JAMES S. PATTEN, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR TO THE PATTENSELF-OILING AXLE AND JOURNAL COMPANY OF BALTIMORE CITY.

AXLE-BOX LUBRICATO R.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 514,379, dated February6, 1894.

Application filed February 24. 1393- Serial No. 463,586- (No model.)

. To (1% whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JAMES S. PATTEN, residing at Baltimore city,in theState of Maryland, have invented a new and Improved Axle-Box Lubricator,of which the following IS a specification.

My present invention is an improvement in that class of car-axlelubricators which comprlse a box adapted to be inserted and held in acar-axle box proper, and for containing a liquid lubricant and means fortaking up such lubricant and transferring it to the journal, also meansfor re-conveying into the box any surplus portion of the same which mayaccumulate on the journal. This form of advantages, that it is comingmore and more into favor with, and being practically adopted by,railroad companies. An example of this kind of lubricator appears in myPatent No. $79,077. I have devised several important improvements uponthe same, and embodied them in practical form in a working-sizelubricator, and subjected it to practical experimental test, also toevery-day use on railroad cars in ordinary service, with the mostsatisfactory results.

I will now describe my improvements by reference to accompanyingdrawings-two sheets in which- Figure l is a longitudinal section of anordinary car-axle box and my improved lubricator contained therein. Fig.2 is a side view of the lubricator proper, together with the brassbearing and axle-journal. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the parts shown inFig. 2. Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse section on line 4- of Fig.1.Fig. 5 is a cross section on line 55 of Fig.7. Fig. 6 is a perspectiveview of a portion of the lubricator detached. Fig. 7 is a plan view ofthe lubricant-holding box.

The axle-box, A, (see Fig. 1,) having the lid a, and axle-journal, B,are of a common and well-known pattern, and with these I also employ thebrass journal-bearing, O, and steel wedge, D, which are arranged oneupon the other, and held in place, between the journal and top of thebox, A, in the usual way.

My invention pertains solely to improvements in the following parts,namely: (first) the lubricant-holding box, and a cap-piece I adapted tofit over the end of the axle-journal, and to be supported on theordinary brass, as hereinafter specified; (second) the means for takingup the oil or other lubricant, and transferring it to the axle journal;and (third) the device for removing the surplus lubricant from thejournal and aiding its return into said box.

I will describe the improvements in the order above named.

The lubricant-holder, or box lsee Fig. 1- is supported adjustably by acurved, plate spring, 2. It is distinguished exteriorly by but onepeculiarity of form, namely; its ends are beveled, at 3, on the underside, for the purpose ofvadapting the box to be conveniently inserted inand removed from the axlebox, A. That is to say, I adapt the box for usein the ordinary, or common, form of axlebox, and hence it must be ofsuch size and shape as will enable it to be conveniently in sorted-andremoved through the door. or opening provided in the ends of such boxes,as illustrated by dotted lines in Fig. l. The lubricant-holding box 1,is also made of considerabl y less width than the axle-box proper, A, sothat it may shift laterally as required to enable it to follow thejournal when it assumes different angles to the ax1e-box,as So oftenoccurs. The box, 1, is divided into two compartments by acentrahtransverse partition 4 (see especially Figs. and 7), which has anarrow V-shaped, vertical slit 5. The function of this partition is toprevent the'oil, or other liquid lubricant, from flowing too quicklytoward either end of the box, 1, when a car lurches, or when passingaround curves in the road. In brief, the partition serves as abathe-plate, which prevents free movement of the lubricant, so that itcannot overflow at either end of the box, 1; yet the narrow slit,

or slot, 5, permits the oil to feed slowly from one compartment into theother, so that a common level is practically maintained in 5 bothcompartments. The slot, 5, is practically superior to any other form ofopening, since it is not liable to obstruction and may be readilycleaned it required. That is to say,

it is open at the top, and also V-shaped, so 10: that the permanentlodgment therein of any foreign substance that may be contained in thelubricant or may accidentally find its way 1nto the box, will rarely ornever occur. Another feature of the box, 1, is a second partition, 6,(see Figs. 5 and 7) which is parallel to the other, 4, but located nearthe rear, or inner, end of the said box. Like the other partition, it iscast integrally with the floor of the box, 1, but, unlike it, isseparated from the side walls of the box. The upper edge of thispartition, 6, is semicircular, corresponding to the form and size of theaxle-journal, B, and provided with a series of slots, or sockets, 7, forholding pieces, or blocks, 8, of leather, felt, or other suitableelastic material, which work in contact with the journal, B, and serveas so many scrapers for removing such portion of thelubricant as maycreep, or flow, inward along the journal. Thelubricant thus removed bythe elastic scrapers, 8, is redelivered into the box, 1, and any portionof the same that enters the space between the partition, 6, and thecontiguous end wall of the box, 1, will readily flow around the ends ofthe partition and thus mingle with the main body of the lubricant. Thesockets for holding the scrapers are arranged in a line parallel to anare which conforms to the circumference of the axle-journal, B.

I prefer the partition 6 should be unattached to the sides of the box 1,but it may instead be attached to one of them and not the other; or itmay be attached to both, or made a separate piece, but provided withopenings to allow passage of the lubricant.

Besides performing the above described function, the partition, 6, actsas a supple mental baffle-plate, aiding in preventing the oil flowingout over the rear end of the box 1, when the car lurches, 850. Itsimportancein this respect is very great, as has been demonstrated byactual use. That is to say, while one half pint of lubricant washed outof a box having no such partition, in a run of but thirty-two miles, thesame quantity served for a run of six thousand miles in a box providedwith the said partition.

The box is provided with lateral, inwardly projecting ribs, or flanges,9-9 Figs. 4 and 7- one of which extends along each side of the box, fromits outer end to the central partition 4. The function of the flanges isto prevent the lubricant from flowing up over the sides of the box 1,and from being thrown over them by the take-up and transfer rollers 10.In other words they serve as lateral fenders which aid in keeping theoil or other liquid lubricant within the required limits.

The two double rollers 10, 10 (Figs. 1 and 4), are journaled side byside in a bearing, 11, which consists of a metal block havingits underside conical or rounded, so that it may rock, or oscillate, freely, onits axis in every direction, and thus allow the rollers to workconstantly in uniform contact with the journal, A, however the lattermay be shifted in relation to the box, 1. The two rollers or sets ofrollers are journaled on opposite sides of the median line of theaxle-journal, so that the latter is, so to speak, bedded between them.The result is that the rollers readily follow the movement of thejournal, or conform to its change of position relative to the box, atall times, as for example, when the car is braked, which could not occurif but one roller were employed or if two rollers were arranged inalignment. Hence, the action of the rollers in transferring lubricant tothe journal is uniform under all conditions. In order to hold thebearing, 11, in place at or near the center of the outer compartment ofthe box 1, I provide the bottom of the latter with a comcal pin, 12, andthe bearing block, 11, witha corresponding socket, so that the block isvirtually pivoted in place, yet free to oscillate as stated. Inpractice, the bearing block, 11, will preferably be a casting ofmalleable iron, and the rollers of steel.

The last feature to be described is the de vice, -13,-shown detached inFig. 6whose construction and functions are as follows. It consistsmainly of a cap, or hollow, polygonal head, 14, and parallellongitudinal arms, or wings, 15. The said cap, or head, is adapted toreceive, and fit loosely upon, the end of the brass C, (see Figs. 1, 2,and 3) and also receives and covers a portion of the end of theaxle-journal, B. Such cap fits loosely in the box, 1, and its narrowarms, 15, extend along the sides of the same, and fill the spaces, thatwould otherwise be open, on both sides of the journal, l3, and below thebrass C. By this construction and arrangement, it will be seen, thatthedevice, 13, serves as a dust-excluder for the box, ],while itsarms,15, also prevent the lubricant from being thrown laterally over theedges of said box in consequence of centrifugal action due to rapidrotation of the axle-journal 13. Such portion of the lubricant as may inthis manner come in contact with the arms, 15, or by reason of theirproximity to or loose contact with the brass, O, is reconveyed into thebox, 1. For this purpose, the upper sides of the arms are beveled, orinclined inward, on the upper side (see Fig. 4), and their lower edgesare provided with notches, 16-Figs. 4, and 6. Such bevel facilitatesdownward flow of the lubricant, and the notches, 16, provide ample spacefor its passage between the arms, 15, and contiguous sides of thebox, 1. The end of the cap 14 is provided with a hole and lip, 17, toprovide for introduction of the lubricant.

In order to hold the device, 13, supported horizontally, or practicallyparallel with the brass, C, I provide it with short fingers, 18-Fig.6-which engage or rest upon the end of the brass-Fig. 2. They projectinward from the cap, 14, one on each side, just above and parallel tothe arms, 15, so that the end of the brass, C, fits easily between thelatter and the fingers, as shown. This construetion and arrangementconstituteno hinderance to placing the device, 13, in position, nor toremoval of the same. In order, there- ICC fore, to provide an ordinarycar-axle box with my lmproved lubricator, it is only necessary to removethe cotton-waste with which such boxes are usually supplied, and insertthe parts comprising my improvement. This is easlly efi'ected, and theoperation requires no description here.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. Alubricant-holding box adapted for use beneath an axle-journal, the samehaving the transverse partition, or baffle plate, 4, separating twolubricant chambers and provided with a V-shaped vertical slot which isopen at the top, as and for the purpose shown and described.

2. In a lubricator for a journal, a box having a partition, or support,provided with one or more elastic scrapers, adapted to work in contactwith the journal, and one or more passages by which the lubricantremoved from the ournal may return to the box, substantiall as shown anddescribed.

3. In a caraxle lubricator,alubricant-holdlng box provided with apartition, or support, having one or more scrapers which are elastic andthus adapted to bend laterally, but held fixed in said partition, orsupport, as shown and described.

t. In a car-axlelubricator, the combination, with the axle journal and acar-axle box proper, of a lnbricant-holdingbox made of less dimensionsto permit of lateral movement in the car-axle box, a spring supportingthe said lubricant-holding'box elastically, and two rollers supportedwithin the latter and arranged on opposite sides of the medianline of-the journal, as shown and described.

5. A lubricant-holdingbox for use in a caraxle lubricator, the samehaving a transverse partition with elastic blocks set in its curvedupper edge and located near the rear wall of the box, but separatedtherefrom and also from one side of the box, to provide spaces whichserve as passages for the lubricant, as shown and described.

6. In a car-axle lubricator, the combination, with a lubricant-holdingbox, of lubricanttransfer rollers, a block, or support, wherein saidrollers are j ournaled and which is adapted to oscillate both endwiseand sidewise, to enable the rollers to accommodate themselves to theposition of the axle-journal relative-to the box, as shown anddescribed.

7. In a car-axle lubricator, the combination, with the axle-journal, ofa lubricant-holder, and two sets of transfer rollers, and a support forsaid rollers which has a universal rocking motion, the rollers beingarranged opposite each other to work on opposite sides of the lowestpoint of the journal, as shown and described.

8. In a car-axle lubricator, the combination with a lubricant-holdingbox, of take-up and transfer rollers and a bearing block for the latterwhich is round or conical on the under side, and rests at a fixed pointon the bottom of said box, but is adapted to oscillate, as shown anddescribed.

-9. In a car-axle lubricator, the combination, with a'lubricant'holdingbox having a pivotpin projecting from its bottom, of take-up andtransfer rollers, a bearing block for the latter which has a round orconical base provided with a socket adapted to receive said pivotpin,whereby the bearing block is supported and adapted to oscillate, asshown and described.

10. The combination with the detachable brass, '(J, of the detachabledevice, 13, composed of the hollow head, or cap, 14, having the parallelarms, 15, extending from its lower side edges, and arranged beneath thebrass, as shown and described.

11. Ina car-axlelubricator,thecombination, with the lubricant-holdingbox, the axle-journal and brass bearing, 0, of the detachable device,13, composed of a hollow head, or cap,

fitted over the end of said bearing, and fine gers-which project overand bear upon the bearing, 0, substantially as shown and described, forthe purpose specified. JAMES S. PATTEN.

Witnesses:

THOS. M. DOBBIN, BENJ. .E. P. CRAMPTON.

